Freedom Rising, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) initiative “to address and improve the worsening plight of the African-American male,” has received gifts totaling $78,461 from a Pittsburgh-based charitable foundation, two mid councils and an offering collected at a Presbyterian collegiate conference. Read more »
October 16, 2017
Freedom Rising initiative receives major gifts
Freedom Rising, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) initiative “to address and improve the worsening plight of the African-American male,” has received gifts totaling $78,461 from a Pittsburgh-based charitable foundation, two mid councils and an offering collected at a Presbyterian collegiate conference. Read more »
In recognition of World Food Day, the Presbyterian Hunger Program has announced that more than 70 Presbyterian churches have become Hunger Action Congregations since the initiative was announced last summer. 
Two strong voices in environmental justice and peacemaking have decided to come together in an effort to strengthen their work. Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF) and Fossil Free PC(USA) have announced a formal partnership in which FFPCUSA will operate as a project within PPF. Leaders of both organizations say the move is in recognition of the “crucial link between environmental justice and peacemaking.” 
In her lifetime, Dr. Su Yon Pak has occupied many chairs.
A native of South Korea — and a cradle Presbyterian — Pak immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 10. After graduating with a degree in organic chemistry, she earned her master’s degree in Christian education at Princeton Theological Seminary. Pak has since lived in Scotland, where she worked at Shakti Women’s Aid in Edinburgh, a women’s shelter and center for women of color. 
As our society continues to age, we hear more and more about the challenges of dementia. There are now about 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, and that number will grow. Alzheimer’s is one of the most feared medical conditions, and there is still no cure. What starts as forgetfulness becomes increasing disability, disconnection, dependence and death. 
It was partly cloudy and windy as Be’sha Blondin, with the Yellowknife Tribe, led a “Fire and Water” ceremony along the river banks at Celilo Park in northern Oregon. Joined by attendees of the Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC) Conference, Blondin sang to the east, west, north and south and along with the rest of the group, poured water and placed a piece of tobacco into the river. It was part of a two-day program that allowed attendees to hear and learn about traditions dating back thousands of years. 
The Presbyterian Writers Guild (PWG) is accepting nominations for its 2018 David Steele Distinguished Writer Award. The award is given biennially in even-numbered years to recognize the cumulative work and influence — regardless of genre or subject matter — of a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) writer. 
Two representatives of the Mexican Communion of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches (CMIRP) recently met with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) World Mission staff in Louisville to explore the possibility of engaging in mission together.
The Rev. Silfrido Gordillo-Borralles, the group’s general coordinator, and the Rev. Dan Gonzalez Ortega, president of the Theological Community of Mexico, an institution composed of six seminaries in Mexico, met with World Mission Director Jose Luis Casal and Valdir Franca, coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean. 
La región vinícola de California del Norte ha recibido la peor parte de los grandes incendios forestales que continúan ardiendo sin control. Se sabe que más de 20 personas han muerto en los incendios, mientras que al menos 285 siguen desaparecidas. 
When Nora Leccese, who addresses domestic, poverty and environmental issues for Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness (OPW), first came to the office through the Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program she only expected to be there for five months.